Recent Articles

Hot on the heels of our recent article on the 11-year-old US youth who was escorted from school for drawing a gun (on a piece of paper, no less) in class, we have another couple of top examples of zero tolerance to childish antics.

Sadly, this is not confined to the US, as Canada's Halifax Herald can confirm.

Billy Barnes, an "eight-year-old student at Ragged Island Consolidated School near Lockeport was suspended from school after pointing a breaded chicken finger at a classmate and saying bang," the Herald reports.

"Teachers follow the discipline policy of the Southwest regional school board that includes a weapons category under the heading Severely Disruptive Behaviour. The possession or use of weapons at school, as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada, is prohibited and may result in immediate school suspension. The Criminal Code defines a weapon as anything designed to be used to cause death, injury or intimidation."

So, did the school authorities over-react? It seems not: young Billy had failed to control his psychopathic urges before. Previously, the boy had been sentenced to one day's suspension for pointing a finger and saying 'bang.' This young man needs help - and fast.

Meanwhile, a Texas teenager faces a misdemeanor charge and $550 fine for saying 'fuck' in class.

WFAA in Dallas reports that 14-year-old Christopher Beauleau, of Granbury Middle School, has booked himself an appearance before the court thanks to his foul-mouthed outburst.

According to court officials, "in many cases the judge will give first time offenders a six month deferral, so they can be on their best behavior, watch their grades and possibly do some community service, then the case could be dismissed."

Community service? What deterrent is this? Christopher will be back swearing, pimping, robbing convenience stores and peddling drugs within days. Give him the lash: it's the only language these people understand. ®

Bootnote

Look out for reader feedback on this madness in tommorrow's Vulture Central Mailbag. And there's more on this topic at Kuro5hin, the tech culture discussion site.